As 2024 draws to a close, the entrepreneurial landscape reflects a year of remarkable transformations, challenges, and achievements. From innovative breakthroughs to navigating economic shifts, business leaders have showcased resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving marketplace. As we look ahead to 2025, the insights and strategies gained over the past year offer valuable lessons for shaping the future. This retrospective captures the reflections of leading entrepreneurs on the defining moments of 2024 and their visionary outlook for the year ahead, providing a roadmap to inspire and guide businesses toward sustainable growth and success.
Mr. Sandeep Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Droom: The year 2024 marked a milestone for Droom as we continued to see the success of our strategic pivot introduced in October 2022. Shifting our focus away from the value segment (cars under ₹10L), we concentrated on mid-range (₹10L-₹30L), premium (₹30L-₹50L), and luxury cars (above ₹50L). This decision was influenced by the evolving venture capital and private equity ecosystem, which shifted from prioritizing market share at any cost to emphasizing growth with profitability.
This pivot significantly elevated our key metrics: our Average Order Value (AOV) rose from ₹10L to ₹27L, our take rate increased from 3.1% to 5.2%, and we achieved CM3 profitability. We set ambitious milestones of reaching ₹4,000 crore in annualized GMV and ₹200 crore in annualized net revenue to validate the strategy. Both targets were achieved six months ago, and since then, our business has experienced nearly 100% year-over-year growth.
Additionally, we diversified our revenue streams beyond the core marketplace by venturing into loans, insurance, Enterprise SaaS, and digital advertising. While these new initiatives currently account for less than 5% of our total revenue, we anticipate they could contribute over 50% within the next five years.
The past two years have proven that building an asset-light, tech-driven consumer internet business enables scalable growth with minimal reliance on external capital, providing a clear path to profitability. As we look to 2025, we plan to introduce 2-3 more initiatives that will establish stable and sustainable sources of revenue and profits for the future.
This strategic shift underscores Droom’s commitment to driving innovation and profitability while maintaining its leadership in the automotive marketplace space.
Mr. Amjad Raza Khan, Co-founder & CEO of Cashaa: As we reflect on an extraordinary year, Cashaa has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation within the decentralized finance sector. In 2024, we successfully transitioned from a B2B banking model to a more retail-focused approach, resulting in a significant increase in platform adoption. A pivotal milestone in this journey was the launch of Cashaa’s retail wallet, which has played a crucial role in reshaping our business model.
Today, we offer industry-leading benefits, including yields of up to 34% APR on digital asset holdings through the Cashaa app, and instant crypto-backed loans with interest rates starting at 0% p.a. Each of our product lines is designed to enhance utility for $CAS holders, the native cryptocurrency of the Cashaa ecosystem.
This strategic shift underscores our commitment to expanding our global footprint and solidifying our leadership in decentralized finance. As we enter the new year, we remain focused on driving innovation, providing secure and seamless financial solutions, and empowering our growing community to achieve financial independence through crypto.
Be Legal: As 2024 draws to a close, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the significant shifts in India’s legal landscape, particularly in corporate governance and white-collar crime. This year underscored the critical need for Indian businesses to adopt a robust compliance framework, not just to meet legal requirements but also to navigate the increasing scrutiny from global stakeholders. The standout lesson of 2024 has been the necessity of “proactive governance,” which has evolved into a vital pillar of business resilience.
Another notable trend has been the growing reliance on digital evidence and forensic audits in addressing white-collar crimes. Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate the continued convergence of law and technology, with AI-powered compliance tools becoming integral to risk management. Additionally, regulatory bodies are expected to intensify their focus on ESG commitments and data privacy, posing both challenges and opportunities for businesses worldwide.
At Be Legal, we are privileged to be at the forefront of this dynamic legal environment. We remain committed to equipping our clients with the foresight and agility needed to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with confidence.
Simrat Kathuria, CEO and Head Dietitian, The Diet Xperts: In 2024, the wellness and nutrition industry witnessed remarkable growth, driven by heightened awareness around personalized diets, gut health, and the synergy between fitness and holistic nutrition. Key trends included the rising popularity of plant-based diets, functional foods, and immunity-boosting supplements. As we look ahead to 2025, this momentum is expected to continue, with greater emphasis on tailored nutrition plans, sustainable and whole-food choices, and the adoption of plant-based and clean eating practices.
With consumers becoming increasingly health-conscious, the industry is set to explore deeper connections between nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being, paving the way for transformative innovations. At The Diet Xperts, we are excited to lead the charge in this evolving landscape, committed to empowering individuals to achieve their health goals through cutting-edge dietary solutions and expert guidance.
Dr. Sheetal Jindal, Senior Consultant and Medical Director, Director of the Medical Genetics Program, Jindal IVF Chandigarh: As 2024 comes to a close, the healthcare sector continues to shine as a beacon of resilience and innovation, with fertility treatments at the forefront of advancements. Looking ahead to 2025, the field is poised for transformative breakthroughs, including cutting-edge genetic screening and advanced embryo freezing techniques. These innovations are set to significantly improve success rates while making fertility care more accessible to those in need.
At Jindal IVF Chandigarh, we remain steadfast in our commitment to embracing these advancements. Our mission is to provide hope, compassion, and world-class care to our patients as we navigate the evolving landscape of reproductive medicine.
Mr. Ankit Kumar, CEO, Skye Air: The year 2024 has marked a pivotal chapter for India’s drone ecosystem, demonstrating Bharat’s immense potential as a land of opportunities. With remarkable strides in policy, technological innovation, and widespread adoption, the industry has seen exponential growth across sectors like logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure. Among the highlights is Gurugram’s emergence as the first metropolitan city globally to embrace drone-based delivery for everyday needs, enabling residents to receive goods within minutes. Other milestones, such as drone-enabled mail delivery in Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, and critical medical supply chains for AIIMS, underscore drones’ transformative role in accessibility and operational efficiency.
As we step into 2025, the drone sector is poised to gain even greater momentum. Scaling networks, enhancing payload capacities, and driving cost efficiencies will unlock immense opportunities in quick commerce, urban air mobility, and sustainability. With the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and ongoing investments in R&D and skill development, India is firmly on the path to becoming a global drone hub by 2030. The future promises groundbreaking solutions to real-world challenges, from reducing urban congestion to minimizing carbon footprints, propelling Bharat toward a technology-driven, sustainable tomorrow.
Mr. Saurabh Rai, CEO, Arahas: Reflecting on 2024, the geospatial intelligence sector has made significant strides, integrating GIS, AI, and IoT across critical industries. Noteworthy among these advancements is the development of the Ayodhya Sustainability Index, a landmark initiative leveraging geospatial intelligence for sustainable urban planning, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation. This achievement has set a global benchmark, showcasing the potential of technology to harmonize development with cultural integrity. Additionally, India’s national initiatives like Naksha, Bhuvan, and SVAMITVA have further elevated the role of geospatial solutions in sustainable development, urban planning, and disaster management, solidifying the sector’s influence in solving complex challenges.
Looking ahead to 2025, the confluence of geospatial intelligence with AI, IoT, and big data is expected to revolutionize industries such as agriculture, logistics, and renewable energy. These advancements will be pivotal in addressing global issues like climate change, rapid urbanization, and resource management. With data-driven solutions at the forefront, the geospatial sector aims to catalyze impactful change, fostering innovation while aligning with national and global sustainability goals. As the industry evolves, geospatial intelligence is set to play an integral role in shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and technologically advanced future.
